Nessus gave a little exclamation of impatience, and
then in the darkness felt the irons to discover the
nature of the fastenings. In a minute there
was a sound of a dull crashing blow, then Nessus moved
to the other side and the sound was repeated.
With two blows of his short heavy sword the Arab had
cut off the feet of the dead Romans at the ankle,
and the chains were free.

“Put on the clothes of this man, my lord, and
take his arms; I will take those of the other.”

As soon as this was done Nessus wrapped some folds
of cloth round each of the chains to prevent their
clanking, then passing a band through the ends he
fastened them to Malchus’ waist.

“Quick, my lord,” he said as he finished
the work; “daylight is beginning to break.”

They stepped over the dead sentry at the door of the
tent and were going on when Malchus said:

“Best lift him inside, Nessus; it may be some
little time before it is noticed that he is missing
from his post.”

This was quickly done, and they then moved away quietly
among the tents till they approached the rear of
the camp. It was now light enough to enable them
to see dimly the figures of the Roman sentries placed
at short intervals round the camp.

“Then we had best lie down quietly here,”
Malchus said; “in a short time the men will
be moving about, and we can then pass through the
sentries without remark.”

As the light spread over the sky sounds of movement
were heard in the camp, and soon figures were moving
about, some beginning to make fires, others to attend
to their horses. The two Carthaginians moved
about among the tents as if similarly occupied, secure
that their attire as Roman soldiers would prevent any
observation being directed towards them. They
were anxious to be off, for they feared that at any
moment they might hear the alarm raised on the discovery
that the sentry was missing.

It was nearly broad daylight now, and when they saw
two or three soldiers pass out between the sentries
unquestioned they started at once to follow them.
The morning was very cold, and the soldiers who were
about were all wearing their military cloaks.
Malchus had pulled the irons as high up as he could
possibly force them, and they did not show below
his cloak.

Walking carelessly along they passed through the sentries,
whose duties, now that morning had dawned, related
only to discovering an enemy approaching the camp,
the soldiers being now free to enter or leave as
they pleased.

“It is of no use to go far,” Malchus said;
“the nearer we hide to the camp the better.
We are less likely to be looked for there than at
a distance, and it is impossible for me to travel at
any speed until I get rid of these heavy irons.
As soon as we get over that little brow ahead we shall
be out of sight of the sentries, and will take to
the first hiding place we see.”